Session 6 - Education about Connection is Required

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We are currently in the midst of a crisis that is teaching us that we must educate everyone in the world toward mutual guarantee. We are greatly hopeful that this necessity will be sensed in all humanity, and that our interdependent need for each other will be felt so supremely, that an ending of "divorce" will not even be thought of as an option, especially since a divorce among countries today, actually means war. This is why we need to understand that we have no choice but to behave with one another in restraint. It is for this reason that the UN was established—a place where nations of the world can unite and discuss domestic peace, meaning the peace of our world.

There are also other organizations addressing this through topics such as education and health. In Geneva, there are entire streets with headquarters of numerous organizations, some of which you have probably never heard of. There is an organization that allots radio and television frequencies to the entire world, so one will not interfere with the other. There is an international organization that arranges for medicine production throughout the world, an international health organization that determines certain basic standards in health, and the manners of cooperation and information sharing among countries in favor of the patients. There is even an international organization that helps determine the colors of the countries' flags to avoid different countries using similar flags.

These organizations set standards on every imaginable topic because countries have become so interconnected and close that common rules must be determined for all of them on various topics. Just as the parliament of each country determines rules in favor of the whole country, which enables modern life to continue to develop, common rules must also be determined for our whole interconnected world. This is why these international organizations are so important, for without them, and they existed for decades, it would be very difficult for us all to get along with each other.

What is now most important for us all today, is to no longer define the territory of each country, as we have spent many efforts on in the past, but rather, now we are in a situation where we must build a "common roof" for all the nations together, one common roof for all humanity and our world. This common "roof" means that we must all come to understand and have a shared feeling that we are all together here, even seemingly in the same room—a room in which it will be very difficult to be together unless we form a mutually reciprocal bond, a truly good relational connection. In this connection we must come to feel united and close to one another; we must feel such an interdependence that it will compel us to change our attitudes toward each other.

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Topic

It is up to all of us to reach a feeling of reciprocal mutual closeness, mutual guarantee and responsibility, and to obligate all of us together to change our relationship with each other for the good of all humanity.

Main Points

The crisis in which we are currently found arouses great hope that we will understand that it is impossible for members of humanity to "divorce" each other from the world, and that we are obligated to one another to behave with restraint.

It is up to each and every one of us to establish and implement shared common standards for the best good benefit of all of humanity and the common "roof" of the entire world that we share together.

References

"Yet what happens to the world's economy is not random—it's about the change we choose. Globalization may have unleashed change of a scale, scope, and speed unprecedented in human history—but it has also given our species an unprecedented opportunity to act in concert in order to master the forces that buffet us."

"We must join together to bring forth a sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace. Towards this end, it is imperative that we, the peoples of the Earth, declare our responsibility to one another, to the greater community of life, and to future generations." (Preamble of The Earth Charter)

"In other words, the Earth Charter urges us to recognize our global citizenship, and our responsibility for caring for our fragile and interdependent ecosystem. We have responsibility to one another, future generations, and the biosphere."

"There is a global revolution occurring in human consciousness. We are at a critical point in human history where as a species we can either evolve through the creation of a more cooperative and interdependent global society... "

"Thus, the socio-economic and environmental aspects of sustainability are highly interdependent. If a society permits excessive environmental deterioration, it risks undermining the economic welfare of its citizens, the legitimacy of its political systems, and the endurance of its institutions. If a society festers with social tension and instability, it is not likely to make the environment a priority, or enjoy the institutional capacity for implementing a sustainable form of development. We take as a fundamental principle, therefore, that the socio-economic and biophysical dimensions of the sustainability transition must be treated in a unified framework."

Engage Yourself

Question 1: Pascal Lamy, former director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), is a political consultant for France and a businessman. Being that he is a man involved in the manufacture of a common roof between nations in the realm of commerce, he was quoted in a lecture given in 2011 at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, in connection with the text in this session (This quote was also presented in the References section of the previous learning session):

"The future lies with more globalization, not less - more co-operation, more interaction between peoples and cultures, and even greater sharing of responsibilities and interests. It is "unity in our global diversity" — or to quote the Indonesia's national motto, "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" — that we need today."

a. Watch the following video clip and answer the following: How is this cooperation that Pascal Lamy talks about expressed in this clip?

How is this cooperation that Pascal Lamy talks about expressed in this clip?

b. At the end of the clip Bobby McFerrin said (performing before the audience), that in every place in the world this musical exercise succeeds. What in your opinion is the secret of its success?

c. If coordination like this began to happen between governments and its people, or between two peoples or more, what kind of result in your opinion would take place from this?

d. Could you convey the results of cooperation that you saw in this clip by means of a romantic tune or a song that you love? It would be wonderful if you could insert your personal connection to the results of cooperation here, and share a song that expresses that sensation that you experience when everyone is cooperating in harmony:

Question 2: In what way is the connection between nations like the connections within a family?

That it is best to separate powers.

That it is impossible to be separate and we must behave with restraint.

That we must reach a state of war.

That we need to think only about neighboring nations.

Question 3: a. According to the information presented in this session, do you see the comparison between international relationships and between couples as a good comparison?

No

Yes

b. If yes, can you indicate points of similarity in mutual respect that there are between nations and couples? And also points of difference?

c. If you don't see this comparison as good or correct, please specify why:

Question 4: When you hear about all the organizations that have been established in order for there to be coordination between the nations, between doctors, between radio stations, etc., how does this make you feel?

Question 5: How would you feel if you and the members of your extended family—including the unendurable mother-in-law and aunt, all of them together—were living in one room? Does that sound like complete torture?

Well it's not torture, but rather love, to the members of the Korowai tribe. (living in the jungles of southeastern Papua in New Guinea.) Accept the invitation to the living room of the Korowai. Be careful! This begins with a climb up an especially high tree. [link to video here, if needed.]

a. What in your opinion are the advantages of a life like this?

b. What in your opinion are the disadvantages of a life like this?

c. According to your feelings, or in your experience, what would be required of each and every one of the members of your family, in order to live in one room? What behaviors, characteristics, personal habits, would need to be modified, and what kind of relationships would all need to have in regard to the rest of those sharing the room?

d. Close your eyes for a moment. Imagine all the people on earth—the rich, the poor, white, black, young, adult, women, men, all of them—entering into "one room" and in it they need to exist.

What in your opinion will happen between people when they enter into one room?

Question 6: According to the text of this session, what will advance the feeling that the entire world exists as one nation?

The abolition of borders and armies.

The creation of one currency.

The establishment of a world government.

The understanding that mutual dependence obliges a change in relationship to another.